Del Marsh: Let's talk about medical marijuana

Marijuana is weighed and packaged for sale at the Northwest Patient Resource Center medical marijuana dispensary in Seattle in November, 2012. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said Friday he would like to see a debate on a bill that would authorize the use of medical marijuana in Alabama.(Photo: Ted S. Warren/AP)

Medical marijuana may not be approved by the Alabama Legislature in the near future. But the leader of the state Senate said Friday he would like to see the chamber discuss it.

"I would like to get it to the floor for debate," Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said in a phone interview Friday. "There's some good debate to be had on it. There are issues out there I think need to be discussed."

Marsh's comments came a day after Senate Rules Committee chairman Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills – a gatekeeper for which bills make it to the floor – told al.com the bill was "bad legislation" that the state did not need.

The Senate President Pro Tem, while noting the chances of passing the bill in the heavily Republican chamber were low, said he believed there were valid arguments to be made for medical marijuana.

"You have a lot of people many times who are prescribed prescription drugs that lead to addiction," he said. "The argument is medical marijuana prevents that issue. My point is I think it should be open for debate."

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, would authorize the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of at least 25 different conditions, ranging from ALS and cancer to migraines and chronic pain. Those seeking to use marijuana would have to have authorization from a doctor saying that the use of marijuana would be an acceptable way to treat the condition, and carry an identification card that would cost $100, though the price could fall if certain classes were completed. A five percent sales tax would be placed on marijuana sales, with the proceeds split between municipal police departments and sheriff's offices to fight drug trafficking.

Patients approved to receive medical marijuana would be placed in three different categories, allowing patients to use from 2.5 to five to ten ounces of marijuana a month. Municipalities with 150,000 people or more – like Montgomery – would be allowed to have two centers for medical marijuana distribution; cities with more than 10,000 people would be allowed to have one.

Waggoner and Singleton did not return messages Friday seeking comment.

The bill got out of the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday by a highly unusual result. Despite being a minority on the Judiciary Committee, four Democrats managed to carry the bill out over the objections of three Republicans. Three other Republicans were not present for the vote; a fourth abstained.

Marsh said he had to study the bill and was not sure how he would vote if a vote was called. Asked about Waggoner's opposition, Marsh suggested that the bill could make it to the floor if there was "a gentleman's agreement not to take action except for discussion."

A medical marijuana bill was approved by a House committee in the 2010 session, although it emerged too late to make it to the floor for a vote. The Alabama Legislature has never voted on a broad medical marijuana bill, though last year it authorized the University of Alabama Birmingham to study the effects of cannabidiol (CBD), a substance derived from the marijuana plant with no psychotropic properties. The study will look at whether the drug is effective in preventing seizures.

Senate Minority Leader Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, said Friday "you have to be optimistic" about the chances for legislation.

"The process is a big process, and sometimes I don't think you necessarily want to signal what's going to happen," he said. "People who understand the issue understand it's very important to provide necessary remedies to people who are in need."